Cornice for windows



Oct. 19, 1943. H. DERMAN CORNICE FOR WINDOWS Filed Dec. 1, 1941 INVENTOR HARRY DEfiMfl/V A'n-b RNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1943 1 UNITED *sTA Es PATENT 1 OFFICE Application 3 Claims.

This invention relates to What is commonly known as a cornice used in trimming the interior of windows primarily to cover and conceal curtain rods, drapery supports and the'like in producing a neat and attractive appearance; and the object of the invention is to provides. device of the class described comprising detachable andfadjustably coupled parts so constructed as to provide a compact packaging of the parts in a container in a package of minimum size, a further object being to provide a cornice employing supporting brackets of strong and durable construction with means on the brackets and on telescoping rails of'the cornice for detachably coupling the rails with the brackets without the use of fastening devices of anykind, a still further object being to provide a cornice of the character described minimizing the use of hardware parts, while at the same time providing a cornice which can be painted or otherwise finished by the purchaser to suit or harmonize with the room in which the cornice is to be mounted, and with these and otherv objects in View the invention consists in a devic of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in useand which is constructed as hereinafter described.

The invention is fully disclosed in the ing specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms apart, in which the separate parts of my invention are designated by suitable reierence characters in each of the views, andin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a window illustrating one of my improved devices mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on line 2- -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the central portion of a cornice showing a modification. I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another modification and also indicating one or the,

rails in section.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one bracket and the coupled end portion of one of I the rails; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the packaging of the parts in a container,'theparts I being those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the drawing. In the construction cornices have been expensive in construction and quite often made to measure, which has also materially added to the cost thereof, thusdevices followof cornices of the'type and r kind'under consideration, for th most part these December 1, 1941, Serial No. 421,110

v rail l0 as to provide interlocking of the end strips.

ment with the ends of the central rail.

stallations by virtue of the degree of adjustability of-the parts one with respect to the other. Thus it is possible to accurately or properly apply the cornice to any desired installation. At this time, it is well to mention that even in the small size of the adjustable unit, the cornice may be as narrow as the central rail of the assemblage by simply sawing off and shortenin the inner adjacent ends of the rail parts which telescope therewith,

so that the outer coupling ends of the adjustable rails can be-brought into abutting engage- Still further, the cornice is so constructed that the severalv parts can be compactly packed in an elongated box or container or simply wrapped in a package the dimensions of which are governed by the length and width of the central rail and the height of the parts as arranged snugly one upon the other. It will also be r -D- parent that by producing the cornice in unfinished wood, the purchaser may then paint, stain,

varnish or otherwisefinish the surfaces of the various parts of ,the cornice to suit and harmonize with the room in which the same is to be supported. y

In Figs. 1, 2, 5 and.6 of the drawing, I have shown one'adaptation of the invention. In these figures, the cornicescomprises a central channel rail l0, in connection with which are slidably and adjustably mounted rails H and i2, which fit in? the channel l3 of the rail IE3 and are held against displacement from the channel by trans verse strips M secured to the inner surface of theupper and lower-flange portions l5 of the rail l0 and these strips are clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. At this time, it is also well to note that these strips are so positioned on the M with the brackets It in packaging the parts as seen in Fig. 6 of the drawing, said strips M enteringvertical recesses I'I in saidbrackets.

.Theouter surfaces ofthe rails m, H and I2 aregroovedor otherwise characterized for ornamental purposes the groove forming corresponding. ribs and it is preferred that in viewing the rails directly at the front thereof, that these rooves. be in common alinement on all of the rails.

Each" of the rails Hand G2 are of the same. construction, though one rail becomes a right side recesses l! is cut out or recessed as seen at 2|, note Fig. 5 of the drawing to receive the body portion of the block l8. In other Words, the width of this recess corresponds to the thickness of the block to provide a free but yet snug fit of the blocks in the brackets thus maintaining the cornice in a substantially rigid position when installed.

The transverse dimensions or width of the blocks [8 correspond to the width of the outer end portions of the bracket l6 so that the outer ends 22 of the brackets form upon the outer surfaces of the blocks l8 vertical columns which finish and ornament the ends of the cornice. Where other ornamental effects are desired, the brackets can,'of course, be modified in construction and this is also true of the outer ends'of the coupling blocks'l8.

The inner or attaching ends ofthe bracket l6 terminate in upwardly and downwardly extending apertured flanges 23 through which screws, nails, or other devices are passed in attaching the brackets to suitable support. For example, to the frame 23 of a window 25 as partially indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The brackets will be so arranged upon the window as to position the rails in front of curtain rods or other hanging means to conceal the same and to form a neat and finished appearance at the upper end of curtains, drapes or other window or door trimmings.

It is also preferred that upper and lower ends of bracket l6 taper inwardly as seen at 25, note Fig. 5 or" the drawing, in order to provide a clearance for the free operation of a screw driver or other tool in mounting the brackets in position, while at the same time, minimizing the total width of the bracket. In this way, the'width of the bracket is kept within the width of the wider central rail [0. i

In installing the cornice and after the rail parts have been properly adjusted, with the center rail l centralized on the rails II and I2, the inner surfaces of the rails H and I2 may be marked with respect to the two end strips I4. The rails may be then detached from the brackets and nails or other fasteners applied to the inner surfaces of the rails II and I2 adjacent or through end strips M which will retain the strips in the desired position of adjustment.

Then the complete rail unit may be attached and detached with respect to the brackets at will without disturbing the relationship of the several rails.

In packaging the various parts of the cornice in two telescoping box parts indicated in dot and dash lines at 21 and 28, Fig. 6 of the drawing, the rails H and I2 are disposed one upon the other with ends of one rail abutting the coupling blocks of the opposed rail as indicated in said figure.

In constructing the bracket "5, it is preferred that the flanges 23 constitute ends of a strip 29 glued and otherwise secured to the body portion of the bracket in order to give strength to these flange ends and in like manner a dowelpin or other reinforcing element 30 may be passed through the ends 22 into the webs 20 to reinforce the ends 22 from stresses or strains to which they may be subjected in coupling and uncoupling the blocks or plates [8 therewith.

' other devices.

strips, 33 project inwardly and form thereof re- In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have shown a slight modification in the construction of the center rail. In this figure 3| represents the channeled rail, 32 the channel in the rear surface thereof. This channel is formed by L-shaped strips 33 secured to the inner surface of the rail 31 at upper and lower edges thereof by screws, nails or The flange portions 34 of the taining flanges which will retain the telescoping rails against displacement from the channel 32 in the same manner as the transverse strips l4.

" In 'Fig. 4 of the drawing is shown another modified form of center rail which may be employed. With this construction the rail 35 is provided with a dove-tail channel 36 on the inner surface thereof, formed by undercut flanges 3'! at upper and lower edges of the rail. These undercut flanges provide bevelled surfaces 38 opening into the channel 35. With this construction, the telescoping rails, one or which is indicated at 39, in Fig. 4 of the drawing, will have corresponding bevelled upper and lower edges to fit the bevelled surfaces 38 in guiding the rails in their sliding movement in the channel 36 of the center rail.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cornice of the class described, brackets for supporting the terminal ends of the rail portion of the cornice, said brackets each comprising a thin plate like body, the inner mounting end of said body having projecting apertured lugs, the outer end portion of said body having vertical recesses on opposite side surfaces thereof forming a vertical column at said end of the plate and the upper edge portion of the plate inwardly of said column, and in alinement with said recesses being cut out to form a channel adapted to receive the terminal end of the rail portion of said cornice.

2. An adjustable knockdown cornice, comprising a center rail, end rails adjustable with respect to end portions of the center rail, means keying th end rails against displacement from the center rail apart from the sliding engagement between said rails, outer ends of said end, rails having grooved coupling plates, brackets for mounting the cornice on a support, said brackets having rail keying sections with which the grooved end plates are .coupled, and said keying sections comprising grooves in one end and at least one side of said brackets for keying theend rails against movement when supported on said brackets.

3. A cornice of the class described comprising a center rail, said rail' having common parallel upper and lower flanged edges, end rails slidably engaging the center rail, means including said flanges on the center rail engaging the end rails to maintain the rails in coupled and alined.relationship, means including plates at outer end portions of said end rails for mounting the same upon suitable supports, said last named means comprising flat plate like brackets having inner mounting. ends and outer rail keying ends, and saidkeying ends of the brackets having grooves opening through one end and one side surface thereof.

HARRY DERMAN. 

